Electric signal system.



A.- H. CAVEN. ELECTRIC 8 |GNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 19:4.

1,21 1,083. Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHE'ET I.

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A. H. CAVEN.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1914.

1,21 1,083. Patented Jan. 2, 1917,

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z- m: Nmdms PETERS m. Pnam 1.11m: WASNING mm a c.

A. H. CAVEN.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1914.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1N5 mmmmrsns (20.. mom-undo. wasmm: mm. D c.

A. H. CAVEN.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPHCATION FILED OCT. 23. 1914.

1,21 1,083. Patented Jan.'2, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- kg, Q

Witnesses Inventor,

Attdrneys m: mmms rsrns m. "lam-Lima. vasmm: 10M. 0. c.

ALVA I-I. CAVEN, OF YOUNGWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 23, 1914. Serial No. 868,257.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known thatl, ALVA H. OAVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngwood, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Electric Signal System, of which the following is a specification.

The presentinvention relates to improvements in electric signal systems, one object of the invention, being the provision of a system adapted for use in connection with railways in which the traflic in both directions is caused at one point to be diverted to a single track, the present system being so designed as to protect the electric street car or train upon the single track against another car or train approaching in either direction.

A further object of the present invention, is the provision of means which under normal conditions permits the energization of the signal lamps which remain lighted at all times, but are more brightly lighted when the system is operated to indicate that a train is upon the single track.

A still further object of the invention, is the provision of an electrically actuatedi means which normally holds an armature and a circuit open so that any failure of the present system will cause the deenergization thereof and the falling of the armature to close an indicating circuit to indicate to the operators of the cars that the signal system is not operating.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the complete system with the parts in normal condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the parts in the position they assume, when a north bound car is about to enter the single track between the turn-outs therefor. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they assume when such north bound car has entered the turnout at the opposite end of the single track of the disk and has returned the signals to normal condition. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they assume at the time a south bound car is about to enter the single track between the turn-outs. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical perspective view of the ratchet mechanism used for operating one switch. I

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the north bound track at one side of an intermediate portion of a track 3, while 2 designates the opposite north bound track, said tracks 1 and 2 being connected by means of the switches 4 and 5 to the intermediate section of the south hound track 3.

It is to protect the train or car between the switches 4 and 5 that the present apparatus is designed.

Under normal conditions, the parts are in the position as shown in Fig. 1. Assuming that a north bound car is about to enter the track- 3 between the switches 4 and 5, and

that the trolley wheel thereof has engaged the trolley contact a, the solenoid 14 of the switch actuating mechanism at the left as shown in Fig. 2 will be energized. The circuit for energizing-the same includes the trolley' T, the trolley wheel (not shown), the trolley wheel contact a, the conductors 6 and 7, the switch 8, which is normally down and in contact with the contact 9, the conductor 10, the switch 11, the contact 12, which is normally held closed by the core 51 of the solenoid 48, the conductor 13, the solenoid 14, the conductor 15 and the ground 16. I

The energization of the solenoid 14 will cause the elevationof the core 17 of the solenoid 14 and consequently operates the lever 19 having a pawl P cooperable with a ratchet wheel R secured to the shaft 200 or switch member 20. WVhen the lever is thus swung, the pawl P advances the ratchet wheel It one step, whereby the insulated disk or switch member 20 is oscillated to place the arcuate contact 21 in engagement with the contact 24, said contact 21 being in contact at all times with the contact 25. Thus the following circuit will be energized to indicate that a north bound car is about to enter and has entered the section of the track between the switches 4 and 5. This circuit includes the ground 22, the conductor 23, the contact 24, the rotary contact 21, the contact Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

- 25, the conductor 26, the electromagnet 27,

the conductor 28, the electromagnet 29,'the

conductor 30, the signal lamps 31, and the trolley T.

In order to maintain the energization of the solenoid 14, the overlapping-contact n is engaged by the trolley wheel beforethe contact a is disengaged, thus causing'the following circuit from the trolleyT to be closed to energize the solenoid 14 and thus insure the'proper operation of the oscillatory, switch member 20. r This circuit includes thetrolley T, the trolley wheel (not shown), the contact a, the conductor 32, the switch 33, the contact 34, the conductor 35, the switch 18, the contact 36 which is engaged clue to the elevation of the core 17, the conductors 37 and 13, the solenoid 14, the conductor 15 and theground 16.

As the car approaches the section of track 3 betweenthe switches 4 and 5, the signal lamps 31 arelighted and are maintained energized until such north bound car enters the track 2, at which time, as clearly illustrated in Fig; 3, theefollowing circuit is closed to energize the solenoid 48 and re turn the oscillatory switch member 20, to its normal position and to extinguish the signal lamps .31. This circuit includes the contact M, the trolley, the trolley wheel (not shown), the conductors 38 and 39, the

armature switch 40 which) has been ele-,

vated due to the energization ofthe electromagnet 27, the contact 41, the conductors 42 and 35, the switch 18, the contact 44, (said switch 18 now being lowered due to the deenergization of the solenoid 14 and the lowering of the core 17- thereof), the

' conductor 45, the electroma'gnet 46 -which insures the elevation of the armature 40, theconductor 47, the solenoid 48, the conductor 49 and the ground 50. Thus the solenoid 48 elevates its core 51 operating the lever 52 having the pawl P cojperable with a ratchet :wheel R secured to the shaft 200, whereby the operation of the lever 52 will rotate the switch member '20 one step in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 2, so that the circuit controlling the signal lamps 31 will be de energized.

The engagement of the trolley wheel the contact a insures the continued energization of the electromagnet 46 and the solenoid 48, as the trolley wheel engages the contact a before it has disengaged the contact 17?. This circuit includes the contact m the conductor 58, the armature switch 54, 'the contact 55, the conductors 56 and 10, the switch 11 which has been elevated due to the elevation of the core 51 of the solenoid 48, the contact 59,'the

' conductors 60 and 45, the electromagnet 46,

the conductor 47, the solenoid 48, the conductor 49 and the ground 50.

. becomes deenergizedand the parts will assume the position as shown in Fig. 1. Presupposing that a car is moving in the direction of the arrow S, the trolley wheel then engages the contact 8 and the following circuit is closed, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 4, to energize the solenoid ofthe ap paratus at the right. This circuit includes the contact 8, the conductor 58, the armature switch 54, the lower contact 59, the conductor 60, the'switch61 whichis in thelowermost position due to the core 91 of the solenoid 88, the contact 62, the conductors 63 and 64, the solenoid .65, the conductor 66 and the ground 67. Thus the enere giza-tion-of the solenoid 65 elevates the core 68 and inturn operates the lever 7 0 (which is arranged to operate the disk 20 the same as the lever 19 operates the disk 20) so that the switch plate 21 thereof'will assume the position as shown at the right in Fig. 4. At the same time, theswitch 69 is elevated to engage the Contact 78 to thus cause the energization ofthe solenoid 65 when the trolley wheel engages the. contact 8. This circuit includes the trolley T, the trolley wheel (not shown), thecontact s, the conductor 75, the switch 40 which is in its lowermost position, the contact 76, the conductor 77, the switch 69, the contact 78, the conductors 7 9 and 64, the solenoid 65, the conductor 66 and the ground 67. Thus the solenoid 65 is energized to insure the movement of the disk 20 to the position as shown in Fig. 4, so that the following signal circuit will be closed. This circuit includes the ground 22, the conductor 23, the contact 24, the arcuate contact plate or'switch 21, the contact 25, the conductor 69, the electromagnet 70, the conductor 71, the electromagnet 72,

the conductor 73, including the signal lamps 74, and the trolley T. Thus it will be seen that the signal lamps 74 for the south bound train or car will be lighted when the trolley of the south bound car engages the respective contacts 8 and 8. At the same time the electromagnet is energized to elevate the armature switches 33 and 8, 'to engage contacts 81 and 94 respectively. e As the car approaches the contact 8 after having passed the switch 4, the following circuit is closed solenoid and gravitation of the core 68, the contact 84, the conductor 85, the electromagnet 86, the conductor 87, the solenoid 88, the conductor 89 and the ground 90. Thus the electromagnet 86 is energized to maintain the switches 33 and 8 elevated, this occurring just before the deenergization of the electromagnet 7 0 or simultaneously therewith so that the armature switches 33 and 8 are elevated to insure the closure at contacts 81 and 94.

When the solenoid 88 is energized, its core 91 is elevated to raise the switch 61, and to swing the lever 92 which is operatively connected'to the disk 20 the same as the lever 52 is connected to the disk 20. The disk 20 is thus rotated backwardly one step to normal position.

As the trolley wheel engages the shoe the same being engaged before it disengages the shoe the following circuit is made to insure the energization of the solenoid 88 and the proper return of the switch 20 to the normal position as shown in Fig. 1. This circuit includes the trolley T, the trol ley wheel (not shown), the shoe 8 the conductor 93, the switch 8, the upper contact 94, the conductors 95 and 60, the elevated switch 61, the contact 96, the conductor 97, the conductor 85, the electromagnet 86, the conductor 87, the solenoid 88, the conductor 89 and the ground 90. Thus the energization of the solenoid 88 operates through the core actuated stem 91 and. the lever 92, the disk 20, to move it from the position as shown in Fig. 4, to the normal position as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the circuits are open as regard to the respective solenoids 48, 14, 88 and 65.

Assuming that a car has passed from the track 1 into the single track block between the double tracks, so that the disk 20 is r0- tated one step to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, should the car back out of said block for any reason onto the track 1, the trolley wheel in engaging the contact n will restore the disk 20 to normal or initial position due to the closing of the circuit including the trolley T, the trolley wheel, the contact n, the conductor 32, the switch 33, the conductor 35, the switch 18 which is in depressed condition (since the solenoid 14 is deenergized after the car passes the contacts H and enters the single track block), the contact 44, the conductor 45, the electromagnet 46, the conductor 47, the solenoid 48, the conductor 49, and the ground 50. The solenoid 48 is thus energized by the backing of the car out of the protected block, and this will raise the core 51 so that the lever 52 in being swung will return the disk 20 to normal position, thus opening the signal circuit and extinguishing the lamps thereof.

Practically the same result is accomplished when a southbound car moving in the direction of the arrow S enters the protected block and then backs out, since the solenoid 65 is energized to advance the disk 20 when the car enters the block, and the solenoid 88 is energized when the car backs out of the block, in the manner which will be readily obvious from the foregoing.

Supposing that after one car has entered the protected block, from the track 1, a second and even a third car can enter the block from the track 1. The first car which enters the block will cause the disk 20 to be advanced one step by the energization of the solenoid 14, and the following car in entering the block will again energize the solenoid 14 in precisely the same manner, so that the disk 20 is advanced a second step to advance its arcuate contact 21. This allows a plurality of cars to enter the block moving in the same direction. \Vhen the first car leaves the block, the solenoid 48 will be energized as above indicated, and this returns the disk 20 one step. The second car in leaving the block and moving onto the track 2 from the switch 5 will again energize the solenoid 48 to return the disk 20 another step. Thus, supposing two cars have entered the block, it will be necessary for both cars to leave the block before the disk 20 is returned back to its normal position. The same thing is true with the southbound cars, as is the case with the northbound cars, as just indicated.

Since the contacts 77/8 and n-s are connected in multiple, it will be evident that the disk 20 will be advanced if the car moves from either of the tracks into the protected block, and the same is true of the southbound cars, since the contacts s-n and s-n are connected in multiple.

In order to provide means for maintaining the signal lamps 31 dimly lighted when the system is in the normal condition as shown in Fig. 1, or the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 4, an electromagnet 99 is provided. Said electromagnet 99 is adapted to be energized at all times, through the following circuit, the ground 97, the conductor 98, the electromagnet 99, the conductor 100, the resistance 101, the conductor 30, including the signal lights 31, and the trolley T. The resistance 101 is sufiiciently high to prevent the lamps 31 from lighting fully as is the case when the circuit is energized as indicated by the heavy lines in Fig. 2, at which time, the resistance 101 is shunted from the circuit and the current is caused to flow through the electromagnet 29. The energization of the electromagnet 29 or 99 elevates the armature switch 102 which is thus held from engagement with the contact 103.

In case any one of the lamps 31 should burn out, the same being connected in series,

the circuit including the electromagnet 29 or 99 would be opened and such electromagnet 29 or 99 becomes deenergized. At this time, the armature switch 102 would fall and engage the contact 103, so that the following tell-tale circuit would be closed, to indicate that the danger lamps 31 are inoperative. This circuit includes the trolley T, the conductor 106, including the tell-tale lamps 107, the armature 102, the contact 103, the conductor 105, and the ground 104.

At the opposite end, the electromagnet 110, has the same office as the electromagnet 99, this electromagnet with the resistance 112, causing the lamps 741 to be lighted dimly when the parts are in the position as shown in Fig. 1. When the parts are in the position as shown in Fig. 4, with the current flowing according to the heavy lines therein, the resistance 112 is cut out when the electromagnet 72 is energized and thus the lamps 7 I will burn brilliantly and signal the full length of the protected section of the track.

The circuit that energizes the electromagnet 110, includes the ground 108, the con ductor 109, the electromagnet 110, the conductor 111, the resistance 112, the conductor 7 3, including the lamps 7 1 and thetrolley T. It will thus be seen that both electromagnets 72 and 110 elevate by attraction the armature switch 113, which is thus held out of contact with the contact 114, so that the tell-tale lights 118 will be extinguished,

and only become lighted when both of the electromagnets are deenergized, the electromagnet 110 or 72 being deenergized due to the burning out of one of the signal lamps '74. This circuit includes the ground 115, the conductor 116, the contact 114, the armature switch 113, the conductor 117, including the tell-tale lamps 118, and the trolley T.

What is claimedis:

1. In a signal system, a tell-tale circuit having signaling means, a normally closed signal circuit having signaling means and a resistance therein to dim the signaling means, means for shunting said resistance,

the signal circuit and shunting means having cooperating means for normally holding the tell-tale circult open.

2. In signal system, a tell-tale circuit the signal circuit and shunting means each having an eleetromagnet, and the tell-tale circuit having a switch normally held open by one or the other of said electromagnets.

3. In a signal system, a tell-tale circuit having signaling means, a normally closed signal circuit having signahng means and a resistance therein, means for shunting said resistance, and said signal circuit and shunting means having cooperating means controlling the tell-tale circuit.

4. In a signal system, a tell-tale circuit 4'':

having signaling means, a normally closed slgnal circuit having signahng means and a resistance therein, means for shunting said resistance, the signal circuit and shunting means each having an electromagnet, and the tell-tale circuit having a switch controlled by each of said magnets.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALVA H. CAVEN.

lVitnesses A. C. REMALEY, V J. MAGKLINGENSMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

